"I'm trying to watch as much League One football as I can, we'll try and get the ball down and play tomorrow." Coventry City's Tony Mowbray

13 March 2015

Matt Joyce

The Sky Blues boss also wants to see his side be tighter from set-plays after conceding two direct free-kicks in two games...

Coventry City manager Tony Mowbray wants his side to be "more expansive" at the Proact Stadium tomorrow as they travel to Chesterfield.

Mowbray has taken charge of two games as Sky Blues manager and faces his first away trip looking for his first victory.

The boss has encouraged his side to get the ball down and play on a better pitch and admits he is trying to watch as many League One games as possible in order to give the Sky Blues the best chance of survival.

"It's another tough game tomorrow, but they're all tough games," Mowbray said.

"I'll put a team out to try and get a result and we will try to get the ball down and play on a good pitch.

"I'm trying to watch as much of League One as I can in my hotel room and the last two games have been very similar. We've come up against two direct teams, who like to play direct into a big striker, fight for second balls, get it wide and put it in your box.

"Chesterfield might play more through the middle but we'll wait and see.

"You can't change everything overnight, I've got to tinker with things. We're not going to be playing like Barcelona, we've got to use the strengths they've been working on and I want us to be a little more expansive."

The Sky Blues have conceded two direct free-kicks in their last two games and six all season in League One.

The manager wants to see the side be tighter from set-plays and revealed that over his managerial career, he has always designated set-pieces to a member of the coaching staff in order to keep a concentrated view on the finer details.

He added: "As a manager, I've always allocated members of staff to set-pieces, this isn't me passing the buck, I've only been here two games! But it focuses the mind of the member of staff, it's their responsibility rather than set plays becoming diluted. Staff can take the players away for concentrated spells to focus on the fine details.

"In the last two games we've lost two similar goals to set-plays. Both have been central free-kicks bent around the wall, that's a fine detail, just the alingment of the wall.

"But I'll leave that to Oggy and Burge, he's talented and will only improve."